Plug-in electro-mechanical devices



Se t. 11 1962 054023 p v. c. BLECKER ETAL PLUG-IN ELECTRO-MECHANICALDEVICES Filed Feb. 18, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 3

ViNCENT C. BLECKER FRANK ARTHUR PEARSON ELLIS E. WEAVER GENTIEL DE GRYSEINVENTORS LBZWCM ATTORNEY Sept. 11, 1962 Filed Feb. 18, 1959 V. C.BLECKER ET AL PLUG-IN ELECTRO-MECHANICAL DEVICES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2VlNCENT C. BLEOKER FRANK ARTHUR PEARSON ELLIS E. WEAVER GENTlEL DE GRYSEINVENTORS ATTORNEY PLUG II'J ELIIETKO-MEIII-IANICAL DEVICES Vincent (C.Blacker, Frank Arthur Pearson, and Ellis 1E.

Vleaver, Molina, and Gentiel De Gryse, East Moline,

Ill, assigners, by mesne assignments, to The Gamewell Company, Newton,Mass, a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 18, 195$, Ser. No. 794,179fiiaims. (til. 3ll'7--9) This invention pertains to timers, counters,and related devices which can be installed and removed rapidly andeasily without connecting or disconnecting the wires con- .nected to theelectric circuits controlled by the device.

The mounting case is permanently installed on the control panel and itselectric terminals are permanently connected into the electric circuits.The timing or counting device is slipped into the mounting case and thehandle depressed to force the electric plugs on the rear of the timerinto engagement with the electric sockets in the rear of the case. Thecam action of the handle implements engagement of the plug and socketcontacts and the over center action of the handle locks the device inplace. No keyway is required for alignment of the contacts because thehandle on the device can be engaged with the four pins on the mountingcase frame in only one position of the device relative to the case.

The advantages of such a mounting arrangement are obvious. The ease andspeed of changing the device reduces replacement time to a minimum. Thisreduces down time on the machine or process controlled with a resultingsaving. Spare timers or counters may be kept on hand for emergency useand the replaced timer repaired at leisure.

Preventive maintenance is more likely to be performed on devicesemploying the mounting system disclosed herein because of the ease ofreplacing a unit which has operated for the prescribed number of hours.The aged unit is removed and replaced with a spare; the aged unit isthen cleaned and oiled, and has its worn parts replaced, and is returnedto stock to be used as a future replacement. In prior systems, thedevices had to be disconnect ed from the wiring with resulting workstoppage and the possibility of incorrect reconnectiontwo things whichdiscourage replacement before failure. A tool life indicator of the typedescribed in United States Patent 2,735,915, issued to Paul A. Hagen,February 21, 1957, may be employed with the device to indicate when theunit is to be replaced.

A novel feature of the invention is the provision of an insulating ringat the rear of the device for supporting the plug terminals. The ring isformed of insulating plastic and encompasses the timing motor to reducethe overall length of the device. A large number of passthrough plugsare integrally molded in the ring. The plugs are separated by a distanceor by an electric barrier conforming to established insulationstandards. Connection to the components within the device are made atthe internal end of the terminals which protrude inside the device.

The housing or canister may be fabricated of a metal cylinder forstrength and economy and may have an insulating plastic end closurewhich contains the integrally molded pass-through terminal sockets. Theexternal electric circuit is permanently connected to the terminalscrews on the exterior of the housing. As an 3,054,023 Patented Sept.11, 1962 ice alternate, the housing could be a one piece moldedconstruction with a reinforced front flange.

Another novel feature of the invention is the protective front coverover the dial. An extension of the cast metal front plate protects thedial face from above and below. Sides withdraw slightly to admit sidelight to illuminate the dial. A rectangular ring of bright metaladjacent to the dial reflects available light onto the dial making forbetter readability. A locking device is provided to maintain the handlein its engaged off-center position to prevent tampering or removal byunauthorized persons. In the locked position the handle is hidden belowthe lower flange of the bezel.

The invention will be described more fully with respect to the followingfigures, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation of the device and its mounting case.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view of the anchor pins and the locking handlein the open position.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view of the locking handle in its lockedcondition.

FIGURE 4 is a front view of the timer dial and bezel.

FIGURE 5 is a rear view of the timer.

FIGURE 6 is a front view of the mounting case.

FIGURE 7 is a rear view of the mounting case.

FIGURES 8, 8A, and 8B are an alternate form of mounting case.

In the view of the timer shown in FIGURE 1 the numeral 10 indicates ingeneral the mounting case. Case 10 in the preferred embodiment is ametal cylinder 9 having open ends. A rectangular flange 11 is rigidlyattached to the front end of the cylinder 9. An insulating terminalblock 12 is rigidly attached to the rear end of the cylinder 9,effectively closing it. A cross section of the panel to which the frontflange 11 is attached is shown at 13, the panel having been drilled toprovide a circular hole through which the case 10 extends. The frontflange 11 may be attached to panel 13 with flatheaded mounting screws 14tapped into panel 13 or by other suitable means.

Front flange 11 is provided with side plates 15, 16 secured near theperiphery of the cylindrical opening. Each side plate 15, 16 has a pairof pins 17, 19 extending inwardly to engage a curved slot 18 in lockinghandle 20 hinged to the timer bezel 21.

The timer or counter device is generally indicated at 22. The operatingmechanism within device 22 may be open or may be covered with aninsulating cylinder 23. The internal mechanism of the device is mountedonto the rear surface 24 of bezel 21. An insulating terminal pin block25 may close or encircle the rear of cylinder 23. As an alternate, thehousing cylinder 9 may be fabricated of a non-conducting material or maybe provided with a non-conducting liner. In that case, cylinder 23 maybe omitted and the mechanism exposed.

The insulating terminal pin block 25 provides support for a plurality ofmale terminals 26 to which the electrical components within the device22 are connected. A like plurality of female terminal sockets 27 are provided in insulating terminal block 12 which forms part of the case It Inthe device shown, twelve terminal pins 26 and twelve terminal sockets 27are employed. The terminal sockets 27 are of the pass-through type; onthe inside of the case It} they form sockets for terminal pins 26, andon the outside of the case they provide a screw =3 terminal for externalelectrical connection. Terminal pins 26 are also of the pass-throughtype; on the inside of device 22 they form projecting terminals to whichthe devices internal wiring may be soldered.

In practice, case is mounted in a circular hole of proper diameter inpanel 13 and secured with screws 14 tapped into the panel. The hole iscircular to make drilling facile. All external electrical connectionsare made to screw terminals 27. Then the timing or counting device 22 isinserted into case 10' until the curved slots 18 engage pins 17. Thetimer is automatically aligned thereby and incorrect electricconnections are impossible if the connections to the housing have beenmade correctly. As locking handle 20 is moved downward, the cam actionof curved slot 18, pivoting around pin 28, serves to move the mechanism22 rearward into case 10. Terminal pins 26 move into terminal sockets 27to establish good electrical connection. When locking handle 20 reachesits lowest position adjacent to the bottom of bezel 21 the over-centerportion of slot 18 becomes effective and retains the device in the case.A lock (not shown) may be provided to prevent unauthorized removal ofthe device. The mechanism cannot be started into the case in any but thecorrect position because of pins 19 and the configuration of thelatching mechanism.

Details of the geometry of the latching mechanism are shown in FIGURE 2.The timing or counting device 22 is shown as partially inserted into thehousing case 10. Locking handle 20 is raised slightly above thehorizontal position. Bezel 21 has on each side a raised flange 30 whichprevents handle 20 from being rotated about pin 28 to a verticalposition. It is evident that finger 31 forming a part of handle 20 willclear the lower pin 17 fixed to side plate 15. Pin 17 extends inwardtoward the mechanism. It is also evident that if the mechanism 22 wereaccidentally inserted upside down into housing 10 the finger 31 wouldstrike pin 19 and prevent further insertion.

The center 32 of the radical arcs 33, 34 which define the working edgesof finger 31 is displaced from the center of rotation of handle 20 tocreate a cam action. The center 32 of are 33 is offset from the centerof pin 28 so that a line drawn from arc center 32 through the center ofpin 28 will cross slot 18 some distance in advance of its end. Thisconfiguration of slot 18 in relation to pin 17 permits handle 20 to bemoved past center as shown in FIGURE 3 to provide over-center latchingaction. By utilizing an offset arc rather than a spiral, the travel oftimer 22 into housing 10 can be better controlled. A constant downwardforce on handle 20 results in only slight force at first as pins 26 andsockets 27 are being aligned, and in a greater force as pins 26 moveinto sockets 27. As the cam surface 33 defined by radius 33 engages theedge of pin 17, the movement of the timer into the case is very gradual.This permits the contact pins and sockets to be engaged slowly. Ashandle 20 is moved downward, the cam surface 33' draws closer to pivot28 and draws the timer into the case with greater force. With theconfiguration of the handle as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 a leverage ofabout 12 to 1 is obtained. The leverage thus provided is sufficient tocompress gasket 36 which is applied around the rectangular periphery ofbezel 21 to seal the mechanism.

Pivots 28 are inserted on the horizontal centerline of bezel 21 so thatthe mechanism 22 will be drawn straight into the case 10 and so that thecompressive force exerted on gasket 36 Will be uniform around its entireperimeter. The pins 28 need not be located exactly on the centerline ofthe device but are placed there for best results. If the majority of theplugs 26 and sockets 27 are located to one side of center, then the pins28 may be located likewise to give a balanced effect.

When the handle 20 is depressed fully downward as shown in FIGURE 3, itmoves past point 37 and becomes self locking. Point 37 is defined as apoint on the cam surface 33 in line with the center of pivot 28 and thecenter 32 of radius 33. Pin 17 in side plate 15 is located below thecenterline 38 of the housing 10; the center of pin 28 is located on thecenterline 38 of the device 22. Thus, as the force of the compressedgasket 35 and the compressed pins 26 tend to force the device out of itshousing, the force is transmitted from pin 28 to handle 28 and thence topin 17. The over-center action locks handle 20 against the bottombeveled surface of bezel 21.

The outer cam surface 34' defined by are 34 comes into play when it isdesired to remove the timer from its housing. Raising handle 20 breaksthe lock effected by pin 17. Raising the handle 20 brings cam surface 34into contact with the front surface of flange 11. Lifting the handle 20upward forces the device 22 out of housing 10. After the end of finger31 clears pin 17 the device may be easily removed from the housing. Thecam action serves to disengage terminal plugs 26 from terminal sockets27 and also serves to break the seal caused by compression of gasket 36over an extended period of time.

Pin 19 is used mainly to prevent entrance of finger 31 when the device22 is inserted into housing 10 upside down. Housing 10 is installed inpanel 13 in correct upright position because the top of flange 11 ismarked Top-$7 A front view of the timer dial and bezel is shown inFIGURE 4. The bezel is generally indicated at 21, and the handle in itslocked position at 20. A dial 40 is divided into increments the numberof which vary with the timing range of the device. A knob 41 permitssetting the pointer 42 to the desired delay interval. A friction device(not shown) maintains the pointer 42 at its preset position. A secondpointer 43 is a cycle progress indicator and shows the time remaining.It is rotated at a controlled rate by the timer mechanism. If the deviceis a counter, the scale on dial 40 is divided into units. The firstpointer 42 is set to a predetermined count, and the second pointer 43indicates either units counted or units remaining.

A neon glow bulb 44- may be inserted through a hole at the top center ofdial 40 to indicate when the device is timing or counting, or is timedout or counted out. A rubber grommet 45 retains the bulb 44 in the hole.The bulb also serves as a stop to prevent the pointers 42, 43 from beingturned past zero or maximum.

The rectangular slate 46 on which dial 40' is imprinted is in thepreferred embodiment acid etched aluminum. Likewise, the rectangularring 47 which borders the rectangle 46 has a light reflecting surface.These reflective surfaces, together with the cut-away sides of bezel 21,serve to capture available light and retain it on the dial face makingfor greater readability. The stylized cut away sides of bezel 21 areshown more clearly in FIG URE 1.

The view in FIGURE 4 shows that tabs 15, 16 are positioned outside theends of the locking handle 20. The ends of the locking handle 20 are inturn positioned at the outside edge of the bezel 21. This arrangementprotects the handle from removal and from bending action. It alsocontributes to the attractive appearance of the unit.

A rear view of the timer or counter is shown in FIG- URE 5. The rearsurface 24 of bezel 21 forms a rectangular outline. The insulatingcylinder 23 forms a circular outline. The circular cover of the motor isgenerally indicated at 58, and the insulating ring surrounding the motorcase 50 is indicated at 25. The plurality of terminal pins 26 arearranged in spaced apart relationship around ring 25. The greatestdiameter of ring 25 and cylinder 23 is less than the inside diameter ofcylinder 9, FIGURE 1.

A front view of the housing is shown in FIGURE 6. The rectangularoutline of the mounting flange is shown at It. It is provided with fourcountersunk mounting holes for flat headed screws 14. The circularopening in flange 11 is indicated at 51. A plurality of terminal socketsring the perimeter of the insulating terminal block 12. The side plates15, 16 carrying the two pairs of pins 17, 19 protrude from the sideedges of flange 11. The pins 17, 19 extend inward so that pins 17 mayengage the curved slot 18 in locking handle 20.

A rear view of the housing 10 is shown in FIGURE 7. The rectangularoutline of flange 11 is shown. Insulating terminal block 12 is shownwith a plurality of terminals 27 having screws 52 recessed in wells 53around the periphery of terminal block 12. The screw terminals 52facilitate connection into-the electric circuit controlled. Barriersbetween the screws 52 may be substituted for the recesses 53 to increasethe electric creepage distance between terminals.

A side view of an alternate form of housing It) is shown in FIGURE 8.The entire housing is a one piece molded plastic case with flange 11 andside plates 55, 56 molded integrally. Lug 57 takes the place of pins 17,19, and is integrally molded with side plates 55, 56 to provide a stronglatching means. Pins 17, 19 may be used but are diflicult to retain inthe plastic side plates. Flange 11 may be reinforced with a metal plateriveted to it. Side plate would then be formed in the reinforcing plate.

FIGURE 8A is a front view of side plate 55 showing the lug 57. FIGURE 8Bis an inside view of side plate 55 and lug 57. The lug has an outline ofapproximately the same configuration as the pins 17 and 19. One portion58 is added to increase the strength of the lug.

Some modifications and changes in the form of the invention disclosedherein will be evident to those skilled in the art. What we desire toprotect is defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A rapidly replaceable timer mechanism and housing including incombination, a rectangular bezel, a substantially cylindrical timermechanism attached to the back of said bezel and supported thereby, saidmechanism having an insulating ring attached at its rear having aplurality of terminal pins extending rearward and electrically connectedto said mechanism, said bezel having a dial plate mounted to its frontand having a knob-controlled pointer concentric with said dial plate, aU-shaped handle pivoted near its open ends to the sides of said bezeland adapted to be manually raised above a horizontal position andlowered to a vertical position, said handle having arcuate shapedfingers on both of its ends, a mating housing having cylindrical sidewalls and having one end closed and one end open, a rectangular flangeextending outward ly from said open end, said flange havingsubstantially the same outline as said rectangular bezel, said flangehaving forward protruding side edges each having a pair of pinsextending inwardly, one of each of said pairs of pins adapted tocooperate with said arcuate shaped fingers on said handle, the other oneof each of said pairs of pins located to interfere with said fingers onsaid handle when said mechanism is inserted in said housing upside down,and a plurality of terminal sockets in said one closed end having socketopenings protruding forward and arranged to receive said plurality ofterminal pins, said terminal sockets extending through said closed endwall for attachment to an external circuit.

2. A substantially sealed enclosing system comprising, in combination, ahousing having a front flange, two spaced apart side plates near thecenter of the sides of said flange, a pair of pins mounted in each ofsaid side plates and extending inwardly toward the central axis of saidhousing, one of each of said pairs of pins mounted slightly below thehorizontal center line of said housing, the other of each of said pairsof pins being mounted above the horizontal center line, a device adaptedfor insertion into said housing, said device having a front flangeprovided with spaced apart sides generally coinciding with the insidesurfaces of said side plates, a pin mounted on each of said sides on thehorizontal center line of said device and projecting outwardly, aU-shaped locking handle having its free ends pivoted on saidlast-mentioned pins and having an arc-shaped finger on each free endextending beyond said pivots, said arc-shaped fingers being defined byan inside arc and an outside arc, the centers of said arcs beingdisposed from the center of said pivots, the inside are of said fingersengaging said pins located on said housing slightly below said centerline when said handle is moved downwardly and inwardly toward saidhousing flange, said handle being rotatable downwardly to thereby drawsaid device into said housing, the outside arc of said fingers engagingthe front surface of said flange on said housing when said handle ismoved outwardly and upwardly to thereby force said device out of saidhousing, and the other of each of said pairs of pins being located so asto engage the outside arc of said fingers and prevent further movementof said device into said housing when an attempt is made to insert thedevice into the housing upside down.

3. An instrument mounting assembly comprising, in combination, acanister having an open end and a closed end, electrical sockets in saidclosed end, an outwardly extending flange around the periphery of .saidopen end, an instrument adaptable for insertion into said canister andhaving electrical connecting prongs on its rearward end adapted to beinserted into the sockets in the closed end of the canister, a flangedportion connected to and surrounding the forward end of the instrument,a compressible gasket on the side of said flanged portion facing theopen end of said canister, said gasket being compressed to provide aseal when the prongs on the instrument extend into the sockets in theclosed end of the canister, spaced apart side plates on thefirst-mentioned flange extending substantially parallel to the centralaxis of said canister, projections extending inwardly from said sideplates toward said central axis, pins projecting outwardly from eitherside of said flanged portion of the instrument, locking arms each havingone end pivotally connected to an associated one of said pins, and anarc-shaped finger on said one end of each arm extending beyond itsassociated pin on the flanged portion of the instrument, said arcshapedfingers being adapted to engage said projections on the aforesaid sideplates and being defined by an inside arc and an outside arc, thecenters of said arcs being displaced from said latter-mentioned pins toprovide a nonspiral offset arcuate configuration of the fingers, thearrangement being such that the arms may be rotated in one directionwhereby the inside are of each finger will engage its associatedprojection on one of said side plates to move the prongs on theinstrument into their sockets in the canister while providing slightforce as the prongs and sockets are being initially aligned and agreater force as the prongs are moved into the sockets and the aforesaidgasket is compressed, said projections on the side plates being spacedfrom the flange on said canister whereby the outside arcs on the fingerswill engage said flange on the canister upon rotation of the arms in theopposite direction to move the instrument and its prongs out of thesockets.

4. The combination claimed in claim 3 wherein the projections extendinginwardly from said side plates each comprise a pair of pins, one pin ineach pair being adapted to engage the inside are of an associated one ofsaid fingers while the other pin of each pair serves to prevent saidinstrument from being inserted into the canister upside down by engagingthe outside arc of an associated one of said fingers.

5. The combination claimed in claim 3 wherein the projections extendinginwardly from the said side plates References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS Linde June 7, 1938 Smith Sept. 2, 1941 '8Healy Nov. 15, 1949 Smith Jan. 1, 1952 Nye Sept. 2, 1952 Stoeoklin Nov.20, 1956 Stoecklin Mar. 19, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Oct. 10,1951 France Feb. 5, 1952

